GANDHINAGAR/NEW DELHI, Sept 12: The World Commission on Dams (WCD) cannot enter the state, says the Gujarat Government. This is shameful and undemocratic, says Medha Patkar. We look forward to interacting with the WCD, says the Madhya Pradesh Government. It will be nice if you don't come, says the Centre.So the WCD cancels its trip.That the Narmada dam project can open the floodgates to controversy is well-known. But this time it's a little known international organisation-set by the World Bank, NGOs and the International Union of Conservation-that has highlighted how deeply polarised sentiments on this subject can be even after years of debate and litigation.Ever since the WCD announced that it would hold meetings on ``big dams in South Asia'' in Bhopal and New Delhi later this month, Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel reacted with outrage. They are targeting the Narmada dam and they are trying to influence the Supreme Court, he said, calling on ``opponents of the dam to march on''. He even drewa parallel between the dam issue and the situation in the US. ``Will the USA allow an NGO from another country to visit that country and probe the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair?''Today the Gujarat Assembly passed a unanimous resolution calling the WCD's proposed visit as ``an unpardonable interference in the country's as well as Gujarat's internal affairs.''Patel told the House that Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh had written to WCD chairman Kader Asmal, who is also South Africa's Minister of Water Resources, asking him to cancel the visit since the Narmada matter is before the court.Patel alleged that most of the 12 WCD members, including Patkar and outgoing Indian High Commissioner in South Africa, L C Jain, are known for their anti-dam views and hence the ``people could not expect the Commission to be impartial.''However, Jain who is the WCD Vice-chairman, is distressed. ``My first reaction to the manner and tone of the series of communications to the Commission fromGujarat MPs and the Government has made me rethink on whether I should continue as Vice-Chairman.``After all, India's prestige is involved, how can I face the Commission officials,'' he told The Indian Express.The decision to hold the meeting in Delhi, he said, was taken several weeks ago and both the Government of India and the Madhya Pradesh Government welcomed it. The only protest came from Gujarat, which, according to Jain, has been consistent in disallowing anyone to look into the Narmada project. As for Jaswant Singh's contention that the matter is in the Supreme Court, Jain says: ``I think this is the flimsiest of arguments. The matter has been in the courts for almost five years, so what's new?''The Madhya Pradesh Government, locked in dispute with Gujarat, over the dam issue has taken the other side. Chief Secretary K S Sharma says that the government had nothing to say about the Centre's decision to refuse permission to WCD. For its part, he said, the state had offered WCD allfacilities to hold its meetings in Bhopal. ``Ours is an open government. We would have put forward our point of view and would have welcomed interaction with the Commission,'' he said.Patkar was more strident. At a news conference in Bhopal today, she said that Home Minister L K Advani and the ``narrow-minded politicians of Gujarat,'' had persuaded the Prime Minister to take a stand against the WCD visit.Asmal told Jaswant Singh: ``I understand that there are sensitivities related to the ongoing Supreme Court case.``I would like to assure you that we will exclude any reference to this matter in the deliberations of the Commission and the hearing.''Asmal's message further said: ``Given that all Commission members and presenters have already purchased tickets and arrangements have been made for the meetings in New Delhi and Bhopal, as well as the assurance that no reference is to be made to the Sardar Sarovar Project. I hope you will reconsider the decision.'' That didn't happen.
